NORTH OLMSTED School officials were unaware that a former candidate for the interim superintendent post faced sexual harassment and falsification charges in a previous job.

Board President Tom Herbster said former candidate William “Bud” Martin did not mention during an initial interview that he had come under fire during his time as superintendent of the Bellevue schools in 2009.

That revelation came to light during a background check after Martin had been named one of two finalists for the job, Herbster said.

The interim post in North Olmsted eventually went to Terry Krivak, the former Berea Schools superintendent. Krivak, whose contract takes effect July 31, will earn a salary of $110,000.

Herbster said in the end, the board considered all the information gathered on both men and decided to go with Krivak.

“We just felt that Terry overall was the stronger candidate,” Herbster said. “There were a lot of other things that went into it, too.”

Herbster admitted the board did not do a “good background check” until after initial interviews with Martin and Krivak to see if there was a good fit.

“Once we interviewed both of them, and we thought there was a possibility, we did the background check,” he said.

In 2009, Martin was suspended after allegations of sexual harassment emerged among his staff in Bellevue. Martin and an assistant were suspended and eventually ousted from their posts.

A judge ordered Martin in 2010 to return $909 in false mileage reimbursements from the district as part of a pre-trial diversion program.

According to Herbster, during his interview Martin had mentioned having “some problems” in Bellevue, but did not elaborate.

“Once we dove into it, we found out there was more,” Herbster said. “I don’t know who was right, but there was more to it than what he had indicated to us.”

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